Russell Westbrook is a leading MVP candidate, and Kevin Durant is the award's reigning recipient. It's the tandem's combined dominance that has made the Oklahoma City Thunder a legitimate championship contender for nearly five seasons running.

Russell Westbrook had 40 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in Friday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers, notching his third consecutive triple-double. But instead of celebrating the relentless MVP candidate's typically dominant performance, the Oklahoma City Thunder are reeling – not just due to a 115-112 loss, but the potential for injury to its only healthy superstar.

The only thing that could possibly stop Russell Westbrook this season? Injuries. After the MVP candidate took a knee to the head late in last night's loss to the Portland Trail Blazers that left a noticeable dent in his face, the Oklahoma City Thunder announced that Westbrook underwent a procedure to fix a cheek fracture and will be sidelined indefinitely.

Scott Brooks' team has won seven straight games after defeating the Indiana Pacers tonight, strengthening its grip on the West's eighth and final playoff spot. The Thunder now lead the ninth-place New Orleans Pelicans by two and-a-half games in the standings, and are three full games up on the Phoenix Suns – whom they meet Thursday in the desert for a must-win game from the home squad.

Powerful dunks over opposing player aren't exactly what the Oklahoma City Thunder had in mind they acquired Enes Kanter at the trade deadline. But it's safe to say the Thunder will take such aggression and efficiency from their new starting center in addition to the back-to-basket prowess that makes him so valuable to Scott Brooks' team.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are finally among the top-eight teams in the Western Conference and are riding high after a trade deadline that shored up a long-standing weakness and improved underwhelming depth. This should be when Scott Brooks' team proves itself as a legitimate title contender. Instead, the Thunder can't seem to shake the injury bug that's plagued them all season.

Reggie Jackson is no longer a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. But even after the talented but inconsistent fourth-year guard was traded to the Detroit Pistons yesterday, he continues making the wrong kind of headline in his former stomping grounds.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are suddenly eighth-place in the Western Conference after their dominant victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, but it's still not time to celebrate. Kevin Durant left his team's win for good late in the fourth quarter with pain in right foot – the same one he broke before the season and sprained two months ago – and later complained of nagging soreness.

Russell Westbrook picked up the second half of the regular season where he left Sunday's All-Star Game: dominating. The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar had nine points – including this soaring two-handed ham – during a typically energetic first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks, leading his team to a 25-19 lead.

Even if the Oklahoma City Thunder's pursuit of Brook Lopez proves futile, there's a growing chance the team still fills its post scoring void at the trade deadline. According to multiple reports, the Thunder have become increasingly interested in Utah Jazz big man Enes Kanter.

Kevin Durant's relationship with the media might be fractured, but his trust in the Oklahoma City Thunder remains strong as ever despite his team's struggles in 2014-2015. During a session with reporters following Wednesday practice, the reigning MVP eased concerns of Thunder fans everywhere by insisting he doesn't resent the organization for trading James Harden and that the heavily scrutinized deal will have no bearing on his free agency decision in two summers' time.